Liam: Let’s show we are world-beaters
LIAM PLUNKETT insists England need to start showing why they are No.1 in the world.
And he has urged his teammates to produce a “complete performance” against Australia in Cardiff today.
Eoin Morgan’s side managed to cling on to top spot after their shock defeat by Scotland last Sunday and an uninspiring victory in the series opener against the Aussies at The Oval.
But fast bowler Plunkett, 33, feels it is time the team put on a show that matched their status.
He said: “You can’t rest on your laurels. We should win games like that against Scotland with the players we’ve got but you need to perform and we are looking for complete performances.
“We agreed that, when batting, we should be able to finish that off but there were a few soft dismissals and we’re looking to erase them.
“We need to finish off games and show why we’re No.1 in the world.”
England climbed to the top of the ICC rankings in May after a stunning winter of 50-over cricket against Australia and New Zealand.
And it should not have been left to Plunkett and fellow bowler David Willey to steer them home in midweek. The Yorkshire ace added: OLIVER RUSSELL booted Huddersfield to a stunning comeback victory in front of their biggest crowd of the season.
More than 9,000 fans took up the club’s offer of free tickets and saw Russell’s 76th-minute penalty win the game after they twice trailed by 18 points.
Vincent Duport overtook Clint Greenshields as Catalans’ all-time top Super “As a team, we feel like the batting was not as good as we can play.
“We know we can do better than that and we know we should have finished the game off more easily.
“You’re looking for that complete performance, bowling and batting, so we’ll be striving for that.”
Australia are pondering extra batting power. Explosive opener D’Arcy Short is a possibility with Michael Neser or Kane Richardson making way.
England are still without Ben Stokes (hamstring), who has an outside possibility of playing in the five-match series.
Plunkett confirmed he is on the lookout for a new side after League try scorer as they swept into an 18-0 lead.
Josh Drinkwater’s kicks created tries for Duport – his 87th in 196 games – Brayden Wiliame and David Mead and he added three goals to silence home fans.
And when Alex Mellor opened Huddersfield’s account after 22 minutes, Remi Casty struck back, with another Drinkwater conversion making it 24-6.
But Darnell McIntosh and McGillvary crossed before half-time for the Giants.
And tries from Adam O’Brien and McGillvary plus two Russell goals levelled it.
Tony Gigot’s drop-goal edged Dragons in front but Russell’s penalty ensured the Giants’ top-eight place. admitting Yorkshire had given him little encouragement in contract talks. He said: “It’s my last year and I went in for a chat with director of cricket Martyn Moxon.
“Obviously as you get a little bit older you maybe think about your salary coming down and you’re playing for incentives and stuff.
“But I didn’t really get offered anything. It gives me a right to speak to other counties.”
Roy, Bairstow, Hales, Root, Morgan (capt), Buttler, Moeen, Willey, Plunkett, Rashid, Wood.
Finch, Short, Head, Stoinis, Marsh, Maxwell, Paine (capt), Agar, Neser/ Richardson, Tye, Stanlake.
Mo Erasmus (South Africa) and Alex Wharf (England).
10.30am, Sky Sports Cricket.